Binder mechanism



July 26, 1949. F. D. PITT BINDER MECHANISM 'Filed July 15; 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fledcam'a .0. H22

H T TOENE Y Jilly 26, 1949. I F. D. PITT 2,477,417

BINDER MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

We dczm'afl Pill w -W; MJ M ATTOEA/EY Patented July 26, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT orries BINDER MECHANISM Frederick D. Pitt, River Forest,111*, as'signor to Wilson-Jones Gompany, Chicago, lit, a corporation ofMassachusetts Application my 1'5, 1944, Serial No. 545,117

2 Claims. 1 y

This invention relates to a binder mechanism of the type comprising abase-member having a pair of prongs adapted to project through a plumayof sheets and -a compressor plate afiapte'd toengage the prongs inbinding relationship.

It is an 'obiieet of this invention to provide a binder mechanism with acompressor plate that may be secured to the prongs of the base memberand detached therefrom quickly and effidiently. It is a further objectof this invention toprovide a compressor plate capable of retaining theprongs of the binder mechanism without any sliding keepers. Otherobjects of this invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention showingthe binder mechanism attached to a plurality of sheets;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the method of securing thecompressor plate to the prongs of my binder mechanism;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the prongs of the base memberbent over the sheets to be bound and the compressor plate indisassembled relationship; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of compressor plate.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a base member havinga pair of sheet retaining prongs 3, 4, which may be integral with thebase member, as illustrated in the drawings, or may be secured to thebase member in any suitable manner. A compressor plate 5 is providedadjacent opposite ends with a pair of slots 6, l which extend inwardlyfrom opposite longitudinal edges of the compressor plate and divide thecompressor plate into a central portion 8 and two ends 9 and Ill. Oneedge of the slot 6 is rounded oil, as indicated at H, to facilitatesecurement of the compressor plate to the prongs. One edge of the slot 1is rounded off, as indicated at I2, similarly to the portion II. Inorder to strengthen the compressor plate 5 each longitudinal edge of thecompressor plate is provided with a reinforcing rib, the ribs l3 and I3' being opposite the slots 6 and I, respectively.

The end 9 of the compressor plate 5 is provided with a pair of laterallyprotruding tongues l4 and I4 adapted to straddle the prong 3 when thecompressor plate is assembled with the base member, as indicated inFigure 3. The opposite end ID of the compressor plate 5 is rounded off,

tion It extending laterally beyond the rounded edge Id 'l heprojectioni6 forms a finger iece to facilitate disengagement or the "compressorplate from the base member, Theeentral portion a of the compressor plate5 is offset aiongits' longitudinal medial line to form a channel T1 forthe reception of the prongs 3 and 4.

In operation, a plurality of sheets l8, preferably provided withapertures I9 and I9, is impaled on the prongs 3 and 4, and the prongsare then bent substantially flat against the top surface of theuppermost sheet. The end 3 of the compressor plate is slid under theprong 3 so that the tongue l4 and I 4' will straddle the prong 3. Thisfirst step in the securement of the compressor plate to the base membermay be accomplished by inserting the end 9 of the compressor plate underthe prong 3, as indicated in the dotted line position of Figure 3, andthen pivoting the compressor plate to the full line position of Figure 3with the prong 3 fitting into the slot 6, or it may be accomplished bystarting with the compressor plate parallel to the prongs and slidingthe compressor plate laterally of the prongs with the prong 3 ridingover the entering end 9 of the compressor plate and into the channel l1,

After the prong 3 is engaged with the tongues l4 and I4, and the slot 6,the compressor plate is pivoted so that the end II] can be insertedunder the prong 4.

When the prongs 3 and 4 are bent downwardly against the uppermost sheetof the stack of papers to be bound they are often pressed inwardly sothat the portion of the prongs 3 and 4 in the apertures l9 and I9,respectively, are not at right angles to the base member 2, but areinclined toward the inner edge of the aperture. In order to avoid thenecessity for tediously rebending the prongs whenever this conditionexists, I have made the compressor plate 5 shorter in length than thedistance between the inner edges of the apertures l9 and I9 so that noparticular care need be exercised in bending the prongs 3 and 4 againstthe papers to be bound and the compressor plate will always fit with itsends 9 and H] underneath and between the bent over prongs 3 and 4.

In the embodiment of Figure 5 both ends 20 and 20 of the compressorplate 2| are made similar to the end In of the first describedembodiment so that either end "of the compressor plate may be insertedunder the prong 3 in securing the compressor plate to the base member.Either of the projections 22 or 22', similar to the projection l 6,serves as a guide by its engagement with the edge of the prong when thecompressor plate is moved into engagement with the base member.

I Although I have described two embodiments of my invention in detail,it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative,rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly,I do not desire to be restricted to the exact details of constructiondescribed, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a binder mechanism, a compressor plate having a pair of tongues onone end and having its other end rounded, a portion of said compressorplate projecting beyond said rounded end, said compressor plate having apair of oppositely directed transverse slots adjacent said ends.

2. In combination, a base member, a pair of sheet retaining prongsprojecting from opposite ends ofjsaid base member, a plurality of sheetsof paper having apertures registering with said prongs impaled thereonsaid prongs being bent over said sheets in substantial parallelism withsaid base member, and a compressor plate .hav-

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 908,144 Low Dec. 29, 19081,048,098 Rheubottom Dec. 24, 1912 1,094,951 Washburne Apr. 28, 19141,303,279 Fisher May 13, 1919 1,320,385 Goss Nov. 4, 1919 1,363,881Kline Dec, 28, 1920 1,477,966 Lindstrom Dec. 18, 1923 1,566,020 King I.Dec. 15, 1925 1,690,230 Kline Nov. 6, 1928 1,782,440- Oudin et a1. Nov.25, 1930 2,127,498 Westphal Aug. 23, 1938 2,156,583 Chaplin May 2, 19392,267,106 Jellies Dec. 23, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country DateFrance Mar. 30, 1931'

